Wood paving-block and pavement.



H. C. INNES.

WOOD PAVING BLOCK AND PAVEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15,1915.

1 ,268, 123 Patented June 4, 1918.

when placed in parallelepipedon, square in cross section and rectangularin longitudinal section. They have a flat top 1 and a bottom 2., and thesides and ends are out in special fluted shape,

the grain of the blocks running parallel with the sides.

The flutes or corrugations in the blocks may be of any desiredconformation or multiple. The preferred form, as shown in the drawing,consists in regular waves having crests 3 and troughs 4. As shown, thecurves or waves on the ends are of the same conformat-ion as those onthe sides, although this is not absolutely necessary. i a

A particular feature of the curves is that they are uniform on any setof blocks so that the blocks will intermesh with each other osition withthe crests of one block lying in the troughs of another. The ends of theblocks may be made with one end curved partly oppositely to the other,so that they will partly interlie each other, or else they may be madeuniform on both ends so that only the crests will touch. In either case,the plan adopted must be fol lowed throughout so as to give the properuniformity.

In laying the pavement, the workman can never make a mistake and lay ablock with the grain running horizontally of the paved surface, as thecurved surfaces will then lie uppermost. Accordingly it is not necessaryto out these blocks withthe height greater than the width to preventthis, and thecross section of the blocks may be safely made square, orother dimension, if desired.

The blocks are chamfered or beveled both top and bottom at 7 said bevelrunning at preferably a steep pitch from the trough of the furrows orcorrugations. Thusthe only parts cut away are the extended fluting inthe block. This chamfered nature of the blocks provides a good footholdfor horses.

It will be understood that the blocks are to be laid lengthwise acrossthe street, in staggered relation with each other. As shown in thedrawing, a course 5 of blocks is laid across the street or other surfaceto be paved, and then another course 6 laid in staggered relationthereto. It is not possible to get absolute accuracy in the laying ofblocks, and it is not expected that all of the blocks in any two courseswill bear the exact relation to each other.

Specifications for the kind of Wood to be used in a pavement, itspercentages of heart wood, determined by the number of rings, and thepounds treatment of creosote oil per cubic footof wood and itsclassification are variable iii various cities. Dependent upon the aboveand the age of the treated blocks, also the season whether dry or moist,

must serve as a guide in the laying of the blocksffor best results. Forthis purpose,

the proposed block can meet such requireclosely interlie each other; seeFigs. 3 and 4. Y

If the "blocks are shrunk and dry, which will more often be the case ingood weather, then the blocks are to be placed with the curves out ofmesh, as shown in Fig. 2. It will be understood that there can be noexercise of judgment in spacing the ends of the blocks, as each f coursewill be perfectly straight and the space or lack of space between theends of the blocks dependent upon how they are shaped originally and notupon how they are laid, if the rule is followed that the blocks shouldcontact with each other in all instances. i V l When the unequalexpansion takes place of the varied density of the blocks, the pressureof one on the other due to the curves, will be to cause a slidingadjustment of the various blocks into closer mesh with each other,thereby taking up the unit expanout their oils, or buckling thepavement. The fact that crests adjoin crests between sides or ends ofblocks will not militate against sliding movement, as the blocks willnot move in straight lines.

The relationship of one course of blocks with an adjoining course ispossible at all times of starting the. course by cutting or batting ablock at the desired place, which will regulate in a measure the spaceing between the blocks, as also the breaking of joints. A p

As above stated, the exact relation may vary, and this variation willtend to give a balance to the pavement, which will, in a measure,prevent a general movement of the blocks all in one direction.

The. blocks except in very exceptional cases will always wholly orpartly intermesh with each. other, which will tend to support thechamfered edges provided for a foothold for horses. In the event of theblocks being spaced with the greatest opening, the chamfered footholdedge would be protected by means of the extending crests of the blocks.

sion without crushing the blocks, pressing its The space between theblocks, including the portions chamfered away, will befilled with.plastic or granular products in ordinary practice, and the movement ofthe blocks will not be s-ufiicient under all but exceptional strains tosqueeze out an ap the corrugating of an edge does not render it liableto breaking down on lateral sure, and as has been said, a verticalpressure on the blocks will not result in the breaking down of thecurved outline, because the freedom of the blocks to intermesh serves asa protection.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is z 1. Wood paving comprising blocks havingfluted sides running with the grain, said blocks placed so that thecurves do not entirely inter-mesh, whereby a sliding movement will beallowed of the blocks into fur ther mesh Without buckling the pavementor crushing the blocks.

2. A Wood paving comprising blocks of substantially rectangular shape,and having a horizontal fiat upper surface out across the grain andvertical sides cut in complementary curves and reverse curves with thegrain of the wood, whereby the space be tween like blocks in laying thesame will be possible of regulation to allow for expansion andcontraction, while the blocks will abut each other at all times.

HARRY C. INNES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

